Lock for double-barreled firearm

ABSTRACT

A two barrel firearm with the barrels arranged one above the other or in side by side relation is provided with a single firing pin assembly in a lock housing behind a breech block with a firing pin opening for each barrel. The firing pin assembly is adapted to be pivoted to each of two positions in alignment with the two firing pin openings and simultaneously cocked by a cocking knob guided in a guide slot in the lock housing. A transversely sliding detent locks the firing pin in cocked position when it is drawn rearwardly by the cocking knob, and a portion of the trigger assembly is adapted to move the detent means in the opposite transverse direction to release the firing pin.

United States Patent Klug [54] LOCK FOR DOUBLE-BARRELED FIREARM [72] Inventor: Hans Klug, Tauberbischofsheim,

Germany [73] Assignee: Firms Wilhelm Meyer, Nuernberg,

Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 74,597

52 us. CL .,..,.42/42 51 Int. CL ..F41e 19/00, F4lc 19m; 531 Field ofSeanch ......42/42 B, 43, 42 R, 42/69 R [451 Aug. 29, 1972 m Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-D. A. Bent Attorney-Brady, O'Boyle & Gates [57] ABSTRACT Atwobarrelfirearmwiththebarrelsarrangedone abovetheotherorinsidebysiderelationisprovided with a single firing pin assembly in a lock housing behindabreech blockwith afiringpinopening foreach barrel. The firing pin assembly is adapted to be pivoted to each of two positions in alignment with the two firing pin openings and simultaneously cocked by a cocking knob guided in a guide slot in the lock housing. A transversely sliding detent locks the firing pin in cocked position when it is drawn rearwardly by the cocking knob, and a portion of the trigger assembly is adapted to move the detent means in the opposite transverse direction to release the firing pin.

INVENTOR HANS KLUG av dag, y/

ATTORNEYS PATENTEnwczs 1972 3.686. 786

sum 2 0r 2 mvgmoa HANS' K'LUG ATTORNEYS 1 LOCK FOR DOUBLE-BARRELED FIREARM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lock for a double-barreled firearm, especially a woods rifle, with barrels arranged one above the other or in side-by-side relation, with a breech block with two firing pin openings oriented toward the barrels.

Double-barreled firearms with hammer action are known in the art in which the locks provide either two separately releasable hammers or one hammer with an associated reversing slide for selecting one or the other of the barrels. However, these gunlocks consist of a substantial number of parts which must be precisely machined in most cases and thus are relatively expensive in their manufacture. An additional disadvantage of the firearms with hammer action resides in that these systems are relatively sensitive to impacts and shocks, and the danger of inadvertent triggering of a shot is great.

In the case of the so-called self-cocking firearms, as well as in the case of firearms with hammers, it is furthermore customary in the art to arrange separately in the breech block of the lock an individual firing pin for each barrel. This results in a further increase in the price of the respective firearm locks. Furthermore, many parts of the conventional lock systems must be made by hand in order to attain a high reliability in functioning.

This invention is directed to the problem of avoiding the above disadvantages and providing a lock for a double-barreled firearm consisting of a relatively small number of structural components, which is insensitive to impacts and shocks and thus offers a high degree of safety against an inadvertent triggering, and the structural components of which are wear resistant can be manufactured by machine, and can thus be produced in an inexpensive manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, this problem is solved by providing one firing pin for both barrels, which firing pin is axially guided in a segment or block rotatably supported in the lock housing and which is cocked in its firing position by means of a moveable arresting detent provided in the segment, after the firing pin is adjustable in the lock housing in one of two guides converging at one of their ends by means of at least one cocking knob connected with the firing pin and which is pulled rearwardly to lock it in cocked position. These two guides are in alignment with the two firing pin apertures in the breech block. By setting the cocking knob in one or the other of the guides in the lock housing, the segment and thus the firing pin are correspondingly pivoted and automatically aligned with respect to one or the other of the barrels. The entire lock consists of only a few parts which can all be manufactured by machine and thus in an inexpensive manner. The single firing pin provided for both barrels can be relatively thick in diameter and can thus be of a rugged design. The arresting detent disposed in the segment offers, in conjunction with the locking notch provided in the firing pin, which latter notch can be designed to be very sturdy, a maximum amount of safety against any unintended triggering of the firing pin and, furthermore, ensures a gentle triggering by the trigger. The arresting detent and the locking notch in the firing pin do not require any accurate fitting work, as is required in the case of guns with hammer action, since the sensitivity against impacts and shocks is very low. The sliding arrangement of the arresting detent in the segment whereby it alides at right angles to the axis of the firing pin to cock or release the same, offers the advantage of a flawless support of the arresting detent, the wear and tear thereon being reduced thereby.

The cocking knob connected with the firing pin furthermore ensures that no unintended shot can be triggered, for example, by catching the firearm on something, as is possible in case of firearms with hammer action. Furthermore, the complete lock can be attached to the rifle stock by means of a few screws and thus can be readily installed and disassembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lock according to the invention for a woods rifle with over/under barrels;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the lock shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a number of structural components of the lock of the invention in an exploded position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 but showing the firing pin in cocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The lock illustrated in the drawings is intended for a woods or deer rifle with two barrels one above the other referred to as over/under barrels (not shown). A breech block 2 is mounted in the lock housing I, which breech block is provided with two firing pin openings 30 and 3b, oriented toward the barrels, not shown, and positioned one above the other. A segment or guide block 4 is freely rotatably mounted on the sidewalls la about a horizontal axis 40 by means of two screws inserted in the sidewalls of the lock housing. The segment 4 is provided with a continuous bore 5 therethrough in which the firing pin 6 is axially displaceably guided. A firing pin spring 7 is provided under compression concentric about the firing pin and connected between a collar 8 at the front end thereof and a bore 9 in tee segment 4. The bore 9 extends partially through segment 4 coaxially with respect to the bore 5 and has a larger diameter than bore 5.

Through both side walls of the lock housing 1 (in FIG. 1, only one wall la is shown), mutually aligned V- shaped guide slots 38, 39 are provided. In a transverse bore 10 in the firing pin 6, a firing pin pivot and cocking bolt 11 is disposed which can be selectively adother, for removably receiving the U-shaped arresting detent 15. One leg 16 of the arresting detent extends downwardly beneath the segment 4 and cooperates with the trigger 17. A compression spring 19 inserted in a bore 18, extending into segment 4 from the lower surface thereof, is in engagement with the leg 16 of the arresting detent l5 and urges or biases the arresting detent in the direction toward the trigger 17. One groove 13 intersects the guide bore 5 for the firing pin 6, whereby a recess is formed through which the leg 20 of the arresting detent 15 extends, which leg is in sliding abutment with the firing pin 6. The firing pin 6 is provided with an indentation 210 serving as the cooperating locking notch which registers with leg of the arresting detent 15 when the firing pin is moved to its cocked position, as shown in FIG. 4.

The trigger 17 is pivotably mounted in the lock housing by means of a trigger pivot pin 21. A trigger spring 22 cocks the trigger 17 in the position shown in FIG. 1, urging it clockwise. The trigger 17 is provided with a two-level release part 23, with the level 23a of the release cam portion 23 closed to the trigger pivot 21 being lower than the release level 23b furthest from the pivot. By fashioning the detent release part 23 with a two-level operating surface 23:: and 23b, it is ensured that the operating level or surface of the detent release part 23 is positioned the same distance beneath the underside of the leg 16 of the arresting detent 15 in each of the two set positions of the segment 4 or of the firing pin 6. This is of importance for obtaining a uniform trigger path for the trigger 17 in the two adjusted positions of the segment 4 or the firing pin 6.

From the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1, the firing pin pivot bolt 11, in order to cock the firing pin 6, is moved toward the right in the guide slot 39 by pulling back on the two cocking knobs 12, until the leg 20 of the arresting detent 15 is locked, under the pressure of the spring 19, in the indentation or notch 21a of the firing pin 6, and thus arrests or locks the latter in cocked position. The arresting detent moves into notch 21a at right angles during the cooking operation. In order to trigger a shot, the trigger 17 is actuated, during which procedure the lower section 23a of the two-level release part 23 comes into abutment with the underside of the leg 16 of the arresting detent l5 and lifts the latter upwardly against the pressure of the spring 19, releasing the arresting detent 15 from the firing pin lock notch 21a thus releasing the firing pin 6 after a predetermined trigger stroke so that the firing pin suddenly advances, under the pressure of the compression spring 7, against the breech block 2 and impinges with its front end against the primer of a cartridge, which latter is not shown.

In order to adjust the firing pin 6 to the lower firing pin opening 3b, or the lower barrel (not shown), the two knobs 12, according to FIG. 1, are pulled obliquely upwardly, pivoting segment 4 about 40, and are pulled toward the right, so that the transverse pin 11 enters the guide slots 38. The thus-pivoted position of the firing pin 6, the segment 4, the arresting detent 15, and the knobs 12 is shown in FIG. 1 in dot-dash lines. The lower leg 16 of the arresting detent l5 cooperates, in this adjustment position, with the higher release surface portion 23b, of the two-level trigger part 23 when a shot is triggered by actuating the trigger l7.

In a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is possible in a side-by-side double barreled firearm, to extend the axis of rotation of the segment 4 in a vertical rather than horizontal direction, in which case the V-shaped guide slots 38, 39 are provided in the upper wall of the lock housing. In this instance, a pin comparable to pin 11 is vertically connected with the firing pin 6 and is guided in the guide slots, which pin carries a cocking knob 12 at its free end. The trigger part 23 requires only a single level in this embodiment. It is to be noted that in the preferred embodiment guide slots 38, 39 can be provided through only one of the lock housing sidewalls.

The lock of this invention is also suitable for installation in double-barreled pistols, wherein the two barrels can be disposed either one above the other or side-byside.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A lock for a double-barrel firearm having a pair of barrels disposed adjacent each other comprising a lock housing having wall portions connected behind the barrels, a breech block connected between the barrels and said lock housing having two firing pin openings therethrough aligned with respect to the barrels, a pair of longitudinal guide openings through a wall portion of said lock housing converging at one end and respectively positioned in alignment with the two firing pin openings in said breech block, a single firing pin assembly in said lock housing for both barrels, a cocking element connected to said firing pin assembly and extending through said longitudinal guide openings, guide means pivotally connected to said lock housing, said firing pin assembly connected for axial guided move ment in said guide means and adapted to be pivoted for alignment with the selected firing pin opening by movement of said cocking element into a respective one of said pair of longitudinal guide openings, detent means normally connected on said pivoted guide means and in contact with said firing pin assembly for locking said firing pin assembly in a cocked position simultaneously with the alignment of the firing pin assembly with the selected firing pin opening by movement of said cocking element, and trigger means connected to said lock housing and positioned to actuate said detent means to release said firing pin assembly from the cocked position.

2. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which the pair of barrels are disposed one above the other.

3. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which said firing pin assembly includes a collar adjacent the front end thereof, and a firing pin spring connected in compression concentrically about said firing pin assembly between said collar and said guide means.

4. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 2 in which said lock housing wall portions include a pair of side walls, said guide means pivotally connected between said side walls along a substantially horizontal axis, said pair of converging longitudinal guide openings comprising V- shaped guide slots in said pair of side walls, and said cocking element comprising a pin member transversely connected with one end of said firing pin assembly and adapted for adjustment in the V-shaped guide slots, said pin member having opposite free ends outwardly of said side walls, and a respective cocking knob connected on each of said free ends.

5. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which the pair of barrels are disposed in side-by-side relation, said lock housing wall portions including a top wall, said guide means pivotally connected along a generally vertical axis to said top wall, said pair of converging longitudinal guide openings comprising a V-shaped guide slot in said top wall, and said cocking element comprising a pin member transversely connected with one end of said firing pin assembly and adapted for adjustment in the V-shaped guide slot, said pin member having a free end above said top wall, and a cocking knob connected on said free end.

6. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1, means on said guide means for guiding the movement of said detent means in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said firing pin assembly, and said trigger means including a cam portion in said lock housing positioned adjacent said detent means and adapted to move said detent means on actuation of said trigger means.

7. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which said pair of converging longitudinal guide openings comprise V-shaped guide slots having axes intersecting at the axis of the pivot of said pivoted guide means and the axes of said converging longitudinal guide openings extending axially respectively parallel to said two firing pin openings in said breech block.

8. A lock for a double-barreled firearm having a pair of barrels disposed adjacent each other comprising a lock housing having wall portions connected behind the barrels, a breech block connected between the barrels and said lock housing having two firing pin openings therethrough aligned with respect to the barrels, a pair of longitudinal guide openings through a wall portion of said lock housing converging at one end and respectively positioned in alignment with the two firing pin openings in said breech block, a single firing pin assembly in said lock housing for both barrels, a cocking element connected to said firing pin assembly and extending through said longitudinal guide openings, a block element having an axial guide bore therethrough pivotally connected to said lock housing, said firing pin assembly connected for axial guided movement in said guide bore and adapted to be pivoted for alignment with the selected firing pin opening by movement of said cocking element into a respective one of said pair of longitudinal guide openings, said block element including side surfaces having a pair of grooves therein extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said grooves intersecting the guide bore at substantially right angles, said firing pin assembly having a cocking notch therein intermediate the ends thereof, substantially U-shaped detent means movably connected in said pair of grooves on said block element, trigger means connected to said lock housing, and said detent means including two free leg portions one in contact with said firing pin assembly when it is moved axially rearward and the other extending away from said block element and terminating adjacent said trigger means for movement thereby to actuate said detent means.

9. A firearm look as set forth in claim 8 including a compression spring mounted in said block element and connected in engagement with said other free leg portion to bias said detent means toward said trigger means and said one free leg portion against said firing pin assembly.

10. A lock for a double-barreled firearm having a pair of barrels disposed adjacent each other comprising a lock housing having wall portions connected behind the barrels, a breech block connected between the barrels and said lock housing having two firing pin openings therethrough aligned with respect to the bar rels, a pair of longitudinal guide openings through a wall portion of said lock housing converging at one end and respectively positioned in alignment with the two firing pin openings in said breech block, a single firing pin assembly in said lock housing for both barrels, a cocking element connected to said firing pin assembly and extending through said longitudinal guide openings, guide means pivotally connected to said lock housing, said firing pin assembly connected for axial guided movement in said guide means, detent means connected to said guide means and in contact with said firing pin assembly for locking said firing pin assembly in a cocked position, said guide means, firing pin assembly and said detent means movable as a unit about the guide means pivot connection to each of two adjusted positions in alignment with the two firing pin openings by movement of said cocking element into a respective one of said pair of longitudinal guide openings, trigger means connected to said lock housing and including a cam portion in said lock housing, and said cam portion having a pair of stepped surface portions respectively positioned the same distance beneath said detent means in the two adjusted positions thereof for moving said detent means transverse of the axis of said firing pin assembly. 

1. A lock for a double-barreled firearm having a pair of barrels disposed adjacent each other comprising a lock housing having wall portions connected behind the barrels, a breech block connected between the barrels and said lock housing having two firing pin openings therethrough aligned with respect to the barrels, a pair of longitudinal guide openings through a wall portion of said lock housing converging at one end and respectively positioned in alignment with the two firing pin openings in said breech block, a single firing pin assembly in said lock housing for both barrels, a cocking element connected to said firing pin assembly and extending through said longitudinal guide openings, guide means pivotally connected to said lock housing, said firing pin assembly connected for axial guided movement in said guide means and adapted to be pivoted for alignment with the selected firing pin opening by movement of said cocking element into a respective one of said pair of longitudinal guide openings, detent means normally connected on said pivoted guide means and in contact with said firing pin assembly for locking said firing pin assembly in a cocked position simultaneously with the alignment of the firing pin assembly with the selected firing pin opening by movement of said cocking element, and trigger means connected to said lock housing and positioned to actuate said detent means to release said firing pin assembly from the cocked position.
 2. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which the pair of barrels are disposed one above the other.
 3. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which said firing pin assembly includes a collar adjacent the front end thereof, and a firing pin spring connected in compression concentrically about said firing pin assembly between said collar and said guide means.
 4. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 2 in which said lock housing wall portions include a pair of side walls, said guide means pivotally connected between said side walls along a substantially horizontal axis, said pair of converging longitudinal guide openings comprising V-shaped guide slots in said pair of side walls, and said cocking element comprising a pin member transversely connected with one end of said firing pin assembly and adapted for adjustment in the V-shaped guide slots, said pin member having opposite free ends outwardly of said side walls, and a respective cocking knob connected on each of said free ends.
 5. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which the pair of barrels are disposed in side-by-side relation, said lock housing wall portions including a top wall, said guide means pivotally connected along a generally vertical axis to said top wall, said pair of converging longitudinal guide openings comprising a V-shaped guide slot in said top wall, and said cocking element comprising a pin member transversely connected with one end of said firing pin assembly and adapted for adjustment in the V-shaped guide slot, said pin member having a free end above said top wall, and a cocking knob connected on said free end.
 6. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1, means on said guide means for guiding the movement of said detent means in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said firing pin assembly, and said trigger means including a cam portion in said lock housing positioned adjacent said detent means and adapted to move said detent means on actuation of said trigger means.
 7. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 1 in which said pair of converging longitudinal guide openings comprise V-shaped guide slots having axes intersecting At the axis of the pivot of said pivoted guide means and the axes of said converging longitudinal guide openings extending axially respectively parallel to said two firing pin openings in said breech block.
 8. A lock for a double-barreled firearm having a pair of barrels disposed adjacent each other comprising a lock housing having wall portions connected behind the barrels, a breech block connected between the barrels and said lock housing having two firing pin openings therethrough aligned with respect to the barrels, a pair of longitudinal guide openings through a wall portion of said lock housing converging at one end and respectively positioned in alignment with the two firing pin openings in said breech block, a single firing pin assembly in said lock housing for both barrels, a cocking element connected to said firing pin assembly and extending through said longitudinal guide openings, a block element having an axial guide bore therethrough pivotally connected to said lock housing, said firing pin assembly connected for axial guided movement in said guide bore and adapted to be pivoted for alignment with the selected firing pin opening by movement of said cocking element into a respective one of said pair of longitudinal guide openings, said block element including side surfaces having a pair of grooves therein extending substantially at right angles to each other, one of said grooves intersecting the guide bore at substantially right angles, said firing pin assembly having a cocking notch therein intermediate the ends thereof, substantially U-shaped detent means movably connected in said pair of grooves on said block element, trigger means connected to said lock housing, and said detent means including two free leg portions one in contact with said firing pin assembly and adapted to register with the cocking notch therein for locking said firing pin assembly in a cocked position when it is moved axially rearward and the other extending away from said block element and terminating adjacent said trigger means for movement thereby to actuate said detent means.
 9. A firearm lock as set forth in claim 8 including a compression spring mounted in said block element and connected in engagement with said other free leg portion to bias said detent means toward said trigger means and said one free leg portion against said firing pin assembly.
 10. A lock for a double-barreled firearm having a pair of barrels disposed adjacent each other comprising a lock housing having wall portions connected behind the barrels, a breech block connected between the barrels and said lock housing having two firing pin openings therethrough aligned with respect to the barrels, a pair of longitudinal guide openings through a wall portion of said lock housing converging at one end and respectively positioned in alignment with the two firing pin openings in said breech block, a single firing pin assembly in said lock housing for both barrels, a cocking element connected to said firing pin assembly and extending through said longitudinal guide openings, guide means pivotally connected to said lock housing, said firing pin assembly connected for axial guided movement in said guide means, detent means connected to said guide means and in contact with said firing pin assembly for locking said firing pin assembly in a cocked position, said guide means, firing pin assembly and said detent means movable as a unit about the guide means pivot connection to each of two adjusted positions in alignment with the two firing pin openings by movement of said cocking element into a respective one of said pair of longitudinal guide openings, trigger means connected to said lock housing and including a cam portion in said lock housing, and said cam portion having a pair of stepped surface portions respectively positioned the same distance beneath said detent means in the two adjusted positions thereof for moving said detent means transverse of the axis of said firing pin assembly. 